Advances in the management of jaundice; experiences with 500 jaundiced patients.

Abstract

The jaundiced patient presents a peculiar problem for treatment inasmuch as the icterus itself, although only a symptom of some underlying disease, produces certain physiological disturbances which have to be considered in the treatment of the patient. Moreover, regardless of the underlying condition causing the jaundice, which must be kept in mind during the planning of the treatment, the factor of liver changes must be considered in the adequate care of the icteric patient. It is presently acknowledged that whether the jaundice is due to a hepatitis (virus or toxic) or whether it is due to some disease process in the extrahepatic biliary tract, there is an impairment of the liver parenchyma. The damage, however, is of variable degree. Severe icterus brings with it a number of changes within the liver itself and within the digestive tract, which must be appreciated when therapy is planned. In treating patients with jaundice